Civilização, No. 2 1928

Bernardo Marques made this magazine cover, "Civilização, No. 2", sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. Look at the flat planes of color, the way Marques has used them to create a sleek image of modernity. I can imagine him at his drawing board, meticulously laying down each block of color, building up the image layer by layer. There’s a real sense of care and precision in his approach, wouldn’t you say? The palette is muted, tasteful - blues, pinks, creams – and the overall effect is one of understated sophistication. The woman gazes off with an emotionless expression while she holds a white dove in her hand. Marques was an artist who seemed at ease navigating the world of commercial art without sacrificing his own vision. He would have looked at Cassandre and other poster artists, but he brings a unique sensibility to his work. It’s a reminder that creativity can thrive in unexpected places, and that artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and space.